Murder of another innocent Ahmadi in Pakistan

30th May 2010 PRESS RELEASE

Murder of another innocent Ahmadi in Pakistan

Murder inspired by Lahore attacks

It is with great regret and sadness that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat confirms that following the Lahore attacks on Friday, another Ahmadi, Mr Nehmatullah of District Narawal, Pakistan was today martyred due to his faith. It appears that this pre-meditated murder was directly inspired by the Lahore attacks.

Full details have not yet been received. However what is known is that the deceased was attacked whilst sleeping during the night with his wife next to him. He was attacked with a knife and died soon after.

One of the sons of Mr Nehmatullah recognised the assailant as he tried to flee and thus the assailant also attacked him with a knife. The son of Mr Nehmatullah survived and has been moved to a hospital where he is being treated. The extent of his injuries is not yet known.

The village in which the deceased lived is populated with three Ahmadi families. After hearing recently in a Friday sermon that Ahmadis were ‘Wajibul Qatl’ the assailant was allegedly openly preaching that he would murder Ahmadis. The term ‘Wajibul Qatl’ is being used increasingly in Pakistan in regard to Ahmadis and translates as deserving to be killed.

Following the Lahore attacks on Friday the assailant also allegedly said openly that he would personally make sure that no Ahmadi was left alive in his village.

The deceased is survived by his wife, three sons and three daughters.

This incident shows again that Ahmadis are facing a time of great uncertainty and danger in Pakistan. The International Community and Media are all urged to take action to help safeguard and protect the lives of Ahmadi Muslims.

22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL UK
Tel/Fax: 020 8544 7613 Mob: 077954 90682
Email: press at ahmadiyya.org.uk
Press Secretary AMJ International

Death toll rises to 94 following Lahore terrorist attacks

30th May 2010 PRESS RELEASE

Death toll rises to 94 following Lahore terrorist attacks

Ahmadis have turned towards God with patience

The Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat confirms that thus far 94 Ahmadis have been martyred in the terrorist attacks that took place in Lahore two days ago. Some media outlets, particularly in Pakistan are wrongly claiming that the figure is less. The number of those who have been seriously injured is more than 125.

27 people died at the Baitul Nur Mosque in Model Town, the remaining fatalities occurred at the Darul Zikr mosque in Garhi Shahu.

The deceased include Judge Munir Ahmad Sheikh, the Amir (President) of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat in Lahore; Major General Nasir Ahmad, the President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Model Town; Mr Mahmud Shad, a missionary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat and a number of other senior community officials.

The majority of those martyred have been taken to Rabwah where more than 90 graves have been dug at the community’s graveyard. The martyrs are being buried in groups and thus far over fifty burials have taken place. Plans for a large scale burial of all the victims at one time were abandoned due to security concerns.

As a mark of respect market traders and other shops in Rabwah have remained closed since the attacks.

The Press Secretary of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Abid Khan said:

“It is not only the family members of the deceased who have been left bereaved but in fact every Ahmadi the world over is feeling great sadness at this time. Despite what has happened no Ahmadi has taken to the streets in protest; no Ahmadi has displayed anything but patience. We, under the guidance of our spiritual leader, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, have instead turned towards God and prayed for the victims, for their bereaved relatives and for the long term peace and prosperity of Pakistan. We will continue with this example no matter what is thrown at us in the full certainty that God is with us and always will be.”

22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL UK
Tel/Fax: 020 8544 7613 Mob: 077954 90682
Email: press at ahmadiyya.org.uk
Press Secretary AMJ International

Ahmadi Muslim Killed in Karachi, Pakistan

26th May 2010

PRESS RELEASE

Ahmadi Muslim Killed in Karachi, Pakistan

The deceased was a kind and devoted Ahmadi Muslim. He was well respected and liked by the local community.

It is with great sadness that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat confirms that another member of its community, Mr Hafeez Ahmad Shakir (age 48) from Karachi was killed in a barbaric attack on 19 May 2010. The deceased was murdered solely because he was an Ahmadi Muslim.

Mr Shakir was leaving the medical store where he worked late at night in Goharabad, Karachi when he was approached by two men on a motorcycle. The two men asked him his name and address and when they were satisfied as to who he was they pulled out a gun and shot him in the temple, killing him instantly. The two assailants fled the scene immediately.

The deceased was a kind and devoted Ahmadi Muslim. He was well respected and liked by the local community. It was only because he was a practising member of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat that he was targeted.

The deceased is survived by his mother, his wife, two daughters and son. On 21 May 2010 his funeral prayers were led in absentia in London by the Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Hadhrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad.

Throughout Pakistan and particularly in Karachi members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat are facing grave danger. In the recent past 9 Ahmadis have been killed in Karachi as anti-Ahmadiyya propaganda has increased. Conferences are being regularly held to incite people to kill or violently attack Ahmadi Muslims and social boycotts are encouraged and implemented throughout the country.

The police and relevant authorities are regularly informed of the atrocities that are occurring but fail to take any significant or appropriate action. Religious extremists are being granted a free hand to persecute innocent Ahmadi men, women and children.

In 1984 anti-Ahmadiyya legislation was passed in Pakistan which legitimised discrimination against the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat. Since then 109 Ahmadis have been murdered for their faith and this year already 6 Ahmadis have been killed.

22 Deer Park Road, London, SW19 3TL UK
Tel/Fax: 020 8544 7613 Mob: 077954 90682

Email: press @ ahmadiyya.org.uk

Press Secretary AMJ International

Anti-Ahmadiyya Conferences on the increase in Pakistan

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Ever Merciful

International Press and Media Desk

Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat International

22 Deer Park, London, SW19 3TL

Tel / Fax (44) 020 8544 7613 Mobile (44) 077954 90682

Email: press@ahmadiyya.org.uk

Web: Alislam.org

LONDON, 30 April 2010

PRESS RELEASE

ANTI-AHMADIYYA CONFERENCES ON THE INCREASE IN PAKISTAN

It is with great regret and concern that the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat notes the increased number of hate filled conferences being held throughout Pakistan by various extreme organisations who claim to be acting in accordance with the teachings of Islam. These conferences are being held solely for the purpose of igniting and spreading anti-Ahmadiyya sentiment far and wide.

One recent example was the Khatme Nabuwwat Conference held in Rabwah (Ahmadiyya Headquarters in Pakistan) on 28 February 2010. This two day conference was widely publicised in the Pakistani Press.

The Daily Ausaf of 1 March 2010 reported that throughout the conference all the speakers utilised the platform to abuse the Founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad and to incite the mass population into targeting Ahmadis. It is of the utmost concern that at such conferences and rallies Ahmadis are being declared ‘Wajibul Qatl’ which translates as ‘Liable to Death’. Thus those attending the rallies, many of whom are uneducated and living impoverished lives, are being coerced into killing or violently attacking Ahmadis with the promise that they will be rewarded by God for their evil acts.

The hate filled organisations are continually producing literature to complement the vitriolic tone of their conferences. The literature is spread far and wide and even though it clearly transcends all levels of decency the authors are not subjected to any sanction whatsoever. One example is the recently published ‘World Tahaffuz-e-Khatme Nabuwwat Council Calendar 2010’ which states that the only ‘cure for Qadianis’ is a violent Jihad. Furthermore it asserts that Ahmadis have no right to live in Pakistan and that the ‘streets should be cleansed of Ahmadis’. The rhetoric is particularly concerning given that the recent history of Pakistan shows that ordinary Pakistanis are being influenced to such an extent that they act upon these orders. Earlier this month three Ahmadis were brutally killed in Faisalabad which has become a centre for anti-Ahmadiyya violence.

Due to the imposition of anti-Ahmadiyya laws in 1974 and 1984 the targeting of Ahmadi Muslims has gained a form of legitimacy which is being continually taken advantage of by extremist factions. This despite the fact that Article 20 of Pakistan’s Constitution guarantees each citizen’s freedom to ‘profess religion and to manage religious institutions’. Article 33 of the same document furnishes the State with a responsibility to ‘discourage parochial, racial, tribal, sectarian and provincial prejudices among the citizens.’ Further, Article 36 furnishes the State with the responsibility to ‘safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of minorities.’

It is high time that the State took responsibility for safeguarding the rights of Ahmadis and indeed all other minority groups within Pakistan in line with the responsibilities imposed by the nation’s own Constitution. This can only be done when it is made clear to extremist factions that their hate filled, barbaric activities will no longer be tolerated.

End of Release

Abid Khan press at ahmadiyya.org.uk